Argentina's Northern Highlights
Start in Buenos Aires and then explore the charming Northwest and Salta, finishing at Iguazu Falls
Days: 10 | From: $5,650 per person
- Includes accommodations at first class hotels that reflect the best of local culture
- Includes excursions and tours with superb private guides
Start in vibrant Buenos Aires, then see the unique sweeping landscapes of the Northwest and get to know small, less visited colonial towns near Salta. Finish your trip at the natural wonder of magnificent Iguazu Falls.
Inquire about this trip
Talk to a Vaya Travel
Specialist
We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.
We consistently receive 5 star reviews from our discerning clients.
At a glance
- Buenos Aires
3 nights: explore Argentina's bustling capital city - Salta
2 nights: take in the unique and otherworldly landscapes of Argentina's Northwest - Purmamarca
2 nights: see the Mountain of Seven Colors and spectacular geological formations - Iguazu Falls
2 nights: one of the world's largest waterfalls in all its stunning majesty
All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.
Customize this trip
+1 (510) 548-8487
Sample itinerary
Welcome to Buenos Aires
Arrive to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s colorful capital, where your private guide will take you to your boutique hotel in the fashionable Palermo district. This is one of the best areas of town for walking around, with charming boutiques and top restaurants.
Accommodations: Mine Hotel
This small, modern boutique hotel has an excellent location in the vibrant Palermo SoHo neighborhood, with many cafes and restaurants right outside the front door. The 20-room hotel offers a restaurant and a private green space with a garden and small pool; most rooms overlook this quaint backyard area.
Upgrades available: Legado Mitico, Alvear Palace, Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, and othersGet to Know Vibrant Buenos Aires
Explore Buenos Aires with your private guide, an engaging bilingual local who will take you through the city’s unique neighborhoods and help you get to know this fascinating metropolis. Discover the charms of Palermo, the Recoleta, the Teatro Colon, the Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo, and La Boca. With your private guide, you have the flexibility to explore at your own pace and make detours and stops along the way.
After your tour, you are free to spend the rest of the day exploring on your own, trying out one of the city’s excellent restaurants and taking in a tango show (we are happy to arrange tango shows and can help you choose the best one based on your interests).
Relax and Explore the City
Enjoy a day at leisure to delve into the city’s offerings; we’ll give you some of our favorite suggestions for things to see and do. We can also arrange additional privately guided tours, such as half day tours of the famous bodegones (classic old cafes and bars), or private tours focused on tango, art, architecture, Jewish history, soccer (including a visit to the Boca Junior stadium), polo, and more.
Fly to Salta, a Colonial City in Northwest Argentina
Fly to Argentina’s Northwest, an area of sweeping vistas and distinct culture. Your private guide will take you to your hotel in the historic center of Salta. The largest city in the region, Salta displays both a deep colonial history and a strong Andean character, and is surrounded by expansive mountain scenery. You have the balance of the day to explore the city on foot and enjoy its lively culture and music scene, while based in a first class small boutique hotel that is a perennial traveler favorite.
Accommodations: Salta Legado Mitico
Located in Salta's historical center and housed in the former manor of a patrician family, Salta Legado Mitico captures the history and culture of the Argentinean Northwest. A quintessential boutique hotel in the best sense, the property has a lot of local charm, first class service, and a great location in town. It has established itself as a favorite among our travelers.
*Includes: BreakfastSalta: Historic Churches, San Bernardo Hill, and Charming Small Villages
Get to know Salta with your private local guide. The city was founded in 1582 and has conserved its Spanish colonial character, which distinguishes it from other Argentine capitals. Let your knowledgeable guide show you the city’s highlights, including historic churches and museums, then head to the top of San Bernando Hill for a panoramic view of Salta. You’ll also spend some time in colonial villages and scenic areas outside the city: San Lorenzo, Río Vaqueros, and the Quebrada de Castellanos.
Follow the Famous "Train to the Clouds" to the Mountain of Seven Colors
Get lost in the dramatic landscapes of the Northwest as you spend the day following the famous “Train to the Clouds” railway track. Your private guide will take you north to San Antonio de los Cobres, then on to Salinas Grandes (Large Salt Flats). Arrive in the afternoon to the village of Purmamarca, located at the base of the majestic Mountain of Seven Colors.
Accommodations: La Comarca
Located a few minutes outside the town of Purmamarca, La Comarca features great views of the colorful hills that characterize this area of Argentina. Its warm rooms were built with local materials such as cactus wood, reed, and clay. The hotel features a rooftop terrace and an onsite restaurant.
*Includes: Breakfast, LunchThe Scenic Northwest: Tilcara, Humahuaca, and the Humahuaca Gorge
Enjoy a full day exploring this exceptional area, famed for its multi-colored and unusual rock formations. Visit the historic small cities of Tilcara and Humahuaca, as well as the Humahuaca Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area is home to many small towns with traditional indigenous communities. After lunch, return to Purmamarca with time to hike around the Mountain of Seven Colors.
The Natural Wonder of Iguazu Falls
Fly north to Iguazu, on the border of Argentina and Brazil. Your private guide will take you to your hotel, which is located right within the national park and next to Iguazu Falls. You can explore the walking trails directly from your hotel, either on your own or with a private local guide. The trails form walking circuits that offer spectacular views of the falls from various angles.
Accommodations: Meliá Iguazu Resort & Spa
We don't generally recommend international chain hotels, but this is the only hotel inside Iguassu National Park on the Argentine side and the only hotel on either side with a view directly to the falls, so it would be a disservice not to recommend it. It has a pleasant atmosphere and very good service. You can visit the main viewing areas of the national park by walking directly from the hotel, or taking the transportation options provided within the park.
*Includes: BreakfastUpgrades and alternatives: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, Aldea de la Selva, for those who prefer to stay on the Brazilian side or in a boutique jungle lodge
Iguazu Falls: Another Perspective
Enjoy a trip to the Brazilian side of the falls, where your private guide will take you along trails that showcase the scale and grandeur of this magnificent natural site. There are also options for hiking and other excursions, such as zodiac boat tours.
Depart for Home or Your Next Destination
Today you say goodbye to your local guide and head to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.
Popular Ways to Customize This Itinerary
Add a few extra nights in Buenos Aires or Mendoza. We can arrange a variety of activities, including city tours, culinary excursions, visits to historical sites, and active options such as hiking, biking, boating, and horseback riding. We can also arrange activities that cater to special interests, such as a Jewish Heritage Tour, architecture tour, visit to the Boca Juniors Stadium, tango class, or wine tours. In Buenos Aires we can also arrange privately guided day excursions to nearby sites, such as the town of Colonia, Uruguay (a well preserved 17th century Portuguese colonial town that is a UNESCO World Heritage site), or up to Tigre and the Delta (there are also biking excursions up to Tigre).
Take part in a day of polo at an estancia outside Buenos Aires: Spend the morning on a horse learning the basics of this popular equestrian sport, enjoy a traditional lunch, then put your new skills to use in a relaxed polo match in the afternoon. Great for beginners and experienced riders alike!
Visit one of the traditional estancias of San Antonio de Areco, about 1.5 hours from Buenos Aires. This is an area that has preserved gaucho traditions more than any other in Argentina, and the estancias offer an in-depth experience in this fundamental aspect of Argentine culture and history.
Extend your visit with time in Argentine Patagonia or the lovely Lake District and Bariloche.
Include some downtime for rest and relaxation! Some free time to unwind or have a massage will allow you to feel refreshed and ready for the remainder of your trip. Many of our properties include excellent spas or wellness centers. We can help arrange these services or include properties that offer health & wellness amenities.
Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip.
Reviews From This Trip
Why Travel with Vaya?
We're TRUE specialists
We’ve not only traveled there, we’ve lived there. Our smart and engaging specialists are all current or former expatriates with years of experience in the region.
Uplifting service
From the first phone call to after you get back, we're here for you every step of the way. We listen, create, customize and advocate for you, and design experiences that go beyond the expected.
Thoughtful travel
Our discerning sensibility and good taste go beyond just choices in hotels and top guides; we have a walk the walk commitment to the environment and are genuine leaders in conservation efforts.